I know Football isn't everything.

I have been writing on Australian Rules football and although I like the game, it certainly doesn't dominate all my waking thoughts. The season ends this Saturday and I will concentrate on other subjects after 5:15 on Saturday afternoon.

Lately I have been giving quite a deal of thought to my immediate future. I know what I would like to do yet there are some temporary barriers. I do have faith that these will be removed or another route will be found. I do have to exercise patience and frankly it isn't one of my virtues.
I have been through a lot and finally there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am not anxious or worried and believe that it is part of the Divine Plan. I am learning what Trust is by being patient.

It is late Wednesday evening here and I am tired and really should be sleeping.
Tasmania is a great place to live and I have lived here all my life. It is not perfect
but what place is? Could I live in another state or location? Yes I could although I would frequently come home.

We are an island state and our insularity is one of our strongpoints. We are proud of who we are and our historical roots. We were first settled by a unique indigneous race 40,000 years ago
and European settlement has only happened in the last 200 years. Sadly most of the original inhabitants were wiped out by introduced diseases or through violence done to them. Yet there are many descendents of these original indigneous inhabitants still living here in Tasmania.

When the Europeans came here, their primary purpose was to establish a penal colony and this lasted for 50 years until transportation ceased in 1853. Most Tasmanians have ancestors who were sent out here as convicts. One of mine was actually transported for receiving stolen goods
and upon his release became one of the leading personalities in the country town of Westbury
with one of the main streets named after him. Other ancestors came out as free settllers and were involved in mining or farming. Some were very adept at running Pubs. Others were involved in horse-racing, either as trainers or jockeys. Music is also prominent in our ancestors with one being a bandmaster and having his own orchestra in the early 20th Century.

I have been involved in researching my Family Tree and of course have discovered some skeletons. It has been very fascinating to look back and only wish my own Father was still alive to learn about his forebears. He was denied access to much of his family history.

Robin L. Harwood
24th September 2008